Hi, I'm Jean Campbell, creator of "Can Do" Street. Welcome to the "Can Do" Blog for Parents and Teachers. This blog is a place for sharing information important to families and teachers of children 3-7 years. Please share with us on any topic appropriate to the needs and interests of families and teachers of children from pre-school through second grade.

It’s about that time again…time to think about outdoor activities such as camping.

The US Dept of Agriculture wants you aware of safe food practices that insure a fun camping trip, free of food borne illnesses.

When it Comes to Safe Drinking Water While Camping …

It is not a good idea to depend on fresh water from a lake or stream for drinking, no matter how clean it appears. Bring bottled or tap water for drinking. Always start out with a full water bottle, and replenish your supply from tested public systems when possible.

The surest way to make water safe is to boil it. Boiling will kill microorganisms. First, bring water to a rolling boil, and then continue boiling for 1 minute.

What Foods to Bring Camping?

Advances in food technology have produced relatively lightweight staples that don’t need refrigeration or careful packaging. For example:

peanut butter in plastic jars;

concentrated juice boxes;

canned tuna, ham, chicken, and beef;

dried noodles and soups;

beef jerky and other dried meats;

dehydrated foods;

dried fruits and nuts; and

powdered milk and fruit drinks.

Powdered mixes for biscuits or pancakes are easy to carry and prepare, as is dried pasta. There are plenty of powdered sauce mixes that can be used over pasta, but check the required ingredient list. Carry items like dried pasta, rice, and baking mixes in plastic bags and take only the amount you’ll need.

General Rules for Outdoor Food Safety
Plan ahead: decide what you are going to eat and how you are going to cook it; then plan what equipment you will need.

Pack safely: use a cooler if car-camping or boating, or pack foods in the frozen state with a cold source if hiking or backpacking.

Keep raw foods separate from other foods.

Never bring meat or poultry products without a cold source to keep them safe.